Now that Halloween has ended, the festive tidal wave of Thanksgiving and Christmas is starting to build. It might seem a bit early to be discussing the holidays, but it's never too soon to begin get yourself ready for the emotional onslaught they bring. Your mom has already been calling to guilt trip you about not spending a complete week together with her for Thanksgiving. You're already beginning to panic about seeing your uncle once you called him a morally bankrupt hillbilly last year.
Your back is already aching at the idea of cold nights around the pullout sofa. Wondering how to deal with the imminent stress? What you need is really a plan. A Holiday Season Emotional Bootcamp Plan, to become exact. Continue reading for our week-by-week tips and techniques to strengthen your stress-handling capabilities and pump you up to handle any holiday drama which comes the right path. Best of luck, soldier. You will need it.
Week #1: Get Right With You
It's holiday season, meaning it's time to get honest on your own. If spending Thanksgiving/Hanukkah/Christmas with the family has already been providing you with a peptic ulcer, you have to call everything off. Your health and sanity is much more important than showing up for many overcooked turkey. Book your cheap ticket to South America and don't think back. For those who have it in your heart to survive the holidays with family (or perhaps if you do not), you want to spend the following month getting your mind and body in shape for the whole thing. Christmas requires endurance. Here are some steps you can take to build yours up:
Tip #1: Daily meditation. Inner peace is important when dealing with stress and crazy members of the family. Invest in going for a few minutes each day to focus on your breathing and clear the mind from now until January 1st. We'll say from top notch experience, it really,really helps!
Tip #2: Stock up on sleep and exercise. Pullout couches and your grandma's pecan pie is a recipe for muscle tension, exhaustion and bloating. Mitigate the results now by over sleeping whenever you can and dedicating you to ultimately exercise routine you love.
Tip #3: Therapy. Its time for you to deal with some lingering deeper issues that have a tendency to feel much more intense throughout the holidays. Ain't no shame in scheduling a few sessions how to make certain you've got emotional support for this stressful season.
Week #2: Get Right With Family
If you have chosen to maneuver forward with family time, it's time to proceed with your family. No doubt you've heard the old adage: \”You can't control others, only how you respond to them.\” Too bad, it's the truth. You're going to have to focus on your reactions towards the family members that drive you batty. And on surface of that, you are going to have to bury any hatchets that are still lingering from last holiday season, or whenever. It could appear to be too much to inquire about individuals, but you'll thank us come Christmas eve. Here's what needs to happen in this phase of coaching:
Tip #1: Tell your sister you forgive her for your crappy thing she did a few months ago. Even though you haven't totally forgiven her, striving to create peace will result in a significantly less awkward Turkey Day reunion.
Tip #2: Practice your \”No I'm not in a relationship right now\” face in the mirror. The better you can provide this answer without betraying your inner rage, the greater off you will be. Because lord knows you're going to get asked this. A lot.
Tip #3: Use social networking to placate your awful uncle. All of us have that certain family member that it seems unattainable along with. Its time to include a bit of back work to ensure the most harmonious family time possible. Thanks to social media, it's incredibly easy. Begin to make nice with your uncle now by liking his Facebook posts and following his wife on Instagram. A few likes can go a long way.
Tip #4: Buy some gifts. No matter how complex and stressful your loved ones situation is, presents make everything a little easier. Since Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Hanukkah this year, show up bearing dreidels and gelt and win everyone over in the get-go.
Week #3 : Spoil Yourself
Once you've got yourself in a better headspace and have offered the olive branch to your \”problem\” family members, it's time to spoil the shit from yourself. You've worked hard, you deserve a new look to accompany your new, holiday outlook. Plus some self-bribery wouldn't hurt either. This holidays, don't scrimp on luxury or opulence. You will need it during those long, lonely nights around the pull-out couch.
Tip #1: Get a fabulous new haircut. Preferably in a style that's eye-catching enough to distract nosy family members from the fact that you're not married or pregnant yet.
Tip #2: Create a plan for something to appear forward to right after the holiday season. We're big fans of the January vacation for this exact reason – regardless of how crazy your December is, you can always take a deep breath and count the days until you will be chilling on the tropical beach having a pina colada in hand.
Tip #3: Buy your hot dress plus some super cozy PJs. The ideal Thanksgiving dress makes you feel beautiful and possess a lot of room for that 5th serving of gravy (you'll thank us later). Make sure you possess some extra luxurious PJs to slide into after dinner, whether that means a satin nightshirt or a onesie.
Tip #4: Obtain a massage. Turn off your phone and enjoy an hour of R&R for the tension-riddled muscles. It'll change amp up your relaxation level and make you feel ready to face the (Christmas) music.
Week #4 : Prepare For The Worst
\”The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.\” Bad, the old adage is true as well. Regardless of how much hard work you've done to prepare for the holiday season, you should still be prepared to struggle. You are going to have low moments. You need to have backup plans B,C and D at the ready. Think of the very worst and make your battle plan accordingly. You might like to consider the following:
Tip #1: Demand backup. There might be several moments when you need someone to talk you down in the fringe of insanity. Get in touch with hometown friends and discover who's going to be around if you want to make a fast escape. Should there be nowhere to get away to, possess a list of friends you can call once the shit hits the fan. Tell them to be expecting an urgent call from you anytime during the day or night from November 28th until December 26.
Tip #2: Do a clean sweep of your mobile phone. If you are single (or perhaps if you aren't), we advise carrying out a clean sweep of the phone. Eliminate any bad phone numbers you might be lured to drunk dial at the peak of loneliness or discomfort.
Tip #3: Distract yourself. Come with an arsenal of positive distraction materials all set to go. You can make a \”Happy Place\” playlist in your iPod, stock your Kindle with self-help books, bring some knitting to complete or plan to continue some majorly long bike rides in the snow. It doesn't matter what it is as long as it gives you a reason to not engage with your sister when she's badgering you.
Tip #4: That as well shall pass. And if all that does absolutely nothing to help soothe your soul this holiday season, as hokey as it sounds, remember that this too shall pass. Before you know it, it will likely be January and you will have another 11 months to chill before the next round of holiday hell.